Ethnocentrism and Arikara history

Abstract

The Euroamericans who encountered late eighteenth and early nineteenth century Arikara communities were explorers and fur traders. The results of these encounters were mixed; some positive, many negative. Whether positive or negative, they expressed the Eurocentrism prevalent at the time. Unfortunately, this Eurocentrism continues to infect contemporary versions of Arikara history. This bias must be removed and historic Arikara customs, standards, and beliefs understood, before the Arikara role in American history can be accurately evaluated. In pursuit of this aim I will examine accounts of early Arikara/Euroamerican contacts from an anthropological and Arikara motivated perspective.

KEYWORDS:

• Sahnish
• Arikara
• Grand River villages
• Situational sedentism
• Archaeology

Acknowledgements

From Tennessee Valley Archaeological Research, I would like to thank Keith Little and Hunter Johnson for their interest and editorial support. Ray Wood, Kacy Hollenback, Paul Picha, Wendi Murray, Fern Swenson, Kathleen Connors, Loren Yellow Bird and Brad Kuunux Teerit Kroupa helped by answering my many questions. All errors of fact and interpretation however are solely mine.

Notes on contributor

Richard A. Krause is Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Alabama and Senior Archaeological Affiliate at Tennessee Valley Archaeological Research. He is the author of A Universal Theory of Pottery Production Irving Rouse, Attributes, Modes and Ethnography; The Clay Sleeps: An Ethnoarchaeological Study of Three African Potters; and the Leavenworth Site: Archaeology of an Historic Arikara Community.